File-box



110111011111 P. H. YAWMAN.

FILE BOX.

Patented Sept. 1,1891.

WIN/E8858:

A ATTORNEY/S UNITED STATES PATENT PHILIP H. YAIVMAN, OF ROCHESTER, NEWYORK.

FILE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,882, datedSeptember 1, 1891..

Application filed November 17, 1890- Serial No. 371,709. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP H. YAVVMAN, of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented certain newand usefulImprovements in File-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon. My present invention relates tofile-boxes for holding and retaining letters, bills, invoices, &c.,embodying a base and end and employing a follower for clamping andretaining the papers against the end, and particularly to that class inwhich the follower is locked to the base portion when the papers areclamped, the pressure of the latter affecting the operation of theclamping device, and has for its objects to simplify and cheapen theconstruction of said boxes, particularly the clamping device; and itconsists in certain novelties of construction and combinations of parts,all of which will be hereinafter described, the novel features beingparticularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a file-boxconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of theclamping device detached, the follower being shown in dotted lines; Fig.3, a perspective View of the under side of the clamping device; Fig. 4.,a View of the bracket for attaching the clamp to the follower.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures denote the sameparts.

The box proper I preferably construct of two pieces of sheet metal, Aindicating the front end portion, and B the base connected to it bysuitable rivets a or other fastenings and having the vertical sides orflanges B B. The base 13 is preferably struck up at the center, as shownin Fig. 1, forming two channels 0 O, with the central rib D betweenthem, and upon this rib is riveted a plate E, with the depressed centerportion and the sides projecting above the rivet-heads, said plateprojecting partly over the channels 0 O and forming ways for the ears orlugs on the followerclamp, which are adapted to slide in them and to beclamped against the under side of the plate E, as will be described. Thelateral flanges on plate E, it will be noted, are substantially on thesame level with the bottom, so that a practically even base will beprovided and on which the bottoms of the papers rest. By providing theplate E with the depressed central portion in which the rivets arelocated I not only secure a smooth surface on which the lower end of theclamp can operate free from obstructions, the clamp end being broadenough to operate upon the two flanges, but the rib materiallystrengthens this piece, preventing its being accidentally bent up by anystrain to which it will be subjected. This construction also simplifiesand cheapens the clamp-guide and box-base and obviates the necessity ofemploying special castings for the guide.

The clamp to which the follower is attached and which is adapted toco-operate with the way at the bottom of the box is represented in thedrawings by the letter F, and is constructed, preferably,of asheet-metal body portion, with the flanges F F bent up at the sides tostrengthen it and to which the loop Gr, preferably of stout wire is,secured. This loop is passed through said flanges F, bent down at thesides at an angle to the main plate, and the ends are bent inward towardthe center, as shown, said ends being adapted to project in the Waysformed by the plate E at the bottom and forward of the point where thelower end of clamp F rests upon said plate. Formed upon the lower end ofthe flanges F are ears ff, ff, preferably two on each flange turnedoutward, and between these the sides of the loop pass, as shown,forpreventing its turning in the flanges and causing it to maintain thesame position relative to the clamp-body all the time. It is notabsolutely necessary to employ two pairs of cars f f on each flange, asthe lower ones f alone will answer the purpose of preventing the loopturning to the rear when the lower end of clamp F and the ends of theloop engage plate E in securing the follower; but I prefer to employboth,as a more rigid fastening for the loop is secured, and it in effectforms part of the clamp without the necessity of soldering or formingthe whole device in one piece, as by casting, thereby making a muchcheaper and simpler locking device.

the plate tipping forward when there are no papers in the box, and it isextended far enough to accomplish this purpose without interfering withthe movement of the plate to release the clamp. The upper end ofclampplate F is provided with laterally-projecting ears g g, stamped outof the metal of which it is composed, and slightly rounded, as shown, towhich the follower G is pivoted, said ears being adapted to enterperforated lugs h 71,, formed on the bracket ll, secured to thefollower. The bracket is also formed of a single piece of sheet metal,having formed on one side the lugs h h,perforated as shown, and on theother suitable points or prongs t t struck out of the body and bent backand adapted to be passed through the followerboard and their ends bentover on the other side, effectually securing the bracket to it, whilethe pivotal connection between the clamp and bracket will permit thefollower to turn and accommodate itself to the papers to be secured.

When the parts are assembled as in Fig.1, the lower end of theclamp-plate rests upon the top of plate E, the end of the loop beingbeneath said plate in the way and forward of the point at which theclamp-plate engages it. The papers to be secured are placed in the boXbetween the ends Aand follower, and the latter is moved up against them5 then when the desired pressure is obtained the lower end of clamp F ismoved forward, causing it to securely engage the top of plate E, and theends of loop G the under side of said plate, when the elasticity of thepapers themselves will hold them in frictional contact and securelylocked in position.

\Vhen desired to have access to the papers, it is only necessary topress the upper end of the follower forward, turning the clamp slightlyand causing lower end to be released from the plate E, as will beunderstood.

By constructing all the parts of sheet metal formed up-in suitable dieswithout the necessity of employing special castings, I materiallycheapen and improve the construction of the box and render it muchlighter than the boxes heretofore in use, besides which, the sheet metalbeing smooth, a better finish can be given them either by lacquer-ing orplating than where rough castings are used.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with the follower, oftheelam p constructed of sheet metal, having the flanges and lugs orears ff formed thereon, and the loop passing through the flanges, havingthe laterally-extending ends, substantially-as described.

2. The combination, with the follower, of the clamp constructed of sheetmetal, having the flanges and the lugs or ears fff'f formed thereon, andthe loops passing through the flanges and between the ears, having thelaterally-extending ends, substantially as described.

The combination, with the base, of the clamp, the loop secured thereto,having the laterally-extending ends, and the ears orprojectionsff forpreventing the loop turning backward, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the slotted base, of the clamp pivoted thereto,constructed of sheet metal, having the flanges and with thelowerendextendingforward,andthelooppassing through the flanges andhaving the laterally-extending ends for engaging the base, substantiallyas. described.

5. The combination, with the follower, of the clamp pivoted thereto,constructedof sheet metal, having the side flanges, and the wire looppassing through the flanges and prevented from turning therein, havingthe latorally-extending ends, substantially as described.

(3. In a file-box, the combination, with the baseand theflangesthereon,ofthefollower,the clamp pivoted to the follower, andthewire loop passing laterally through it and secured rigidly thereto,said loop havinglaterally-extending arms for engaging the flanges on thebase.

7. The combination, with the base having the flanges, of the follower,the clamp constructed of sheet metal, having the trunnions formed at itsupper end pivoted to the follower, the flanges at the sides, and thewire loop secured thereto, having the' laterally-extending ends engagingthe base-flanges, substantially as described.

PHILIP H. YAWMAN.

\Vitnesses:

FRED F. CHURCH, G. ADELE Rent.

